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COUNTY BEAT 14 CITY BEAT 14 COURT BEAT 15 Newsworthy
Meager Hay Harvest Threatens Flathead Livestock Shelter All Mosta Ranch struggles to find and afford life-sustaining hay
BY CLARE MENZEL OF THE BEACON
Over the past 17 years, hundreds of abused, displaced, neglected, and unwanted farm animals have found a permanent home in Marion on All Mosta Ranch, the Flathead Valley’s only live- stock rescue.
In the past few months, however, the amount of hay available for purchase in the valley has dwindled so dangerously that Director of Operations Kate Borton may have to shut down the sanctuary.
“If we can’t buy the hay we need to feed the animals, we’ll have to close,” Borton said. “And I can’t find any [hay].”
Drought, high temperatures, and low humidity have contributed to what fourth-generation Flathead farmer Chris Fritz calls “the worst [hay harvest] in over 100 years.”
Fritz said his pastures, located on the outskirts of Kalispell, have all but dried up. Most seasons, he produces about 600 round hay bales, 400 of which he keeps, selling or donating the rest. This year, he’s not sure he’ll break 500.
Usually, Fritz gives some hay to Bor- ton, but he said this summer he “can’t
afford to let hay go for any sort of dona- tion. I’m not selling hay because I’m not sure I’ll even have enough for myself... it’s going to be a hard year for Kate.”
Kim Hagadone, another farmer who supports All Mosta, has only been able to harvest two-thirds of her usual yield and doesn’t expect to be able get a sec- ond crop.
“People are literally lining up knock- ing at our door, and we have no hay to give them,” Hagadone said. “It makes me sad because we’ve donated a lot of hay to All Mosta every year, but [this year] it’s all gone.”
Borton has been forced to turn to bro- kers who ship in hay from Billings, Boze- man, Butte, and Canada.
“I’ll do everything in my power to get the hay,” she said.
Borton said brokers don’t sell their hay cheap. In past years, it has cost her about $2,000 per month to feed the 100 animals currently under her care. But this year, many brokers are pricing bales above $300 per ton, which is more than twice what she typically spends.
As a small non-profit, All Mosta depends on donations from the public for
Storm clouds roll over a hay field off of Church Drive near Kalispell. BEACON FILE PHOTO
Final Phase of Kalispell Bypass Moving Forward Transportation officials hope to open completed bypass by late 2016
its survival. Now more than ever, dona- tions are critical to keep operations run- ning.
“If donations don’t come in, and we
can’t even buy the hay that we need...” Borton trailed off. “What’s the use of hav- ing a rescue if I can’t feed the animals?”
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A pedestrian and bike pathway will trace the entire bypass, similar to the southern portion.
Once the bypass is fully completed, MDT has future plans for expanding the south portion from two lanes to four lanes from the south entrance at U.S. 93 to Foys Lake Road. The immediacy of that project will depend on traffic vol- umes and funding. The roundabouts at Airport Road and Foys Lake Road would also be replaced with bridges.
Mitchell said the original plans called for the four-lane alternate route and bridges on the south end, but MDT decided to build the current setup because it was cost effective and allowed the project to move forward.
Montana’s Congressional delegation — Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Rep. Ryan Zinke — sent out statements applauding the passage of the highway funding.
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BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
Completion of the Kalispell bypass is moving forward following the last-min- ute Congressional approval of an $8 bil- lion extension of federal transportation funding.
President Obama signed the short- term extension July 31, the same day e the nation’s road and transit spending was scheduled to expire.
The latest agreement extends funding until Oct. 29. Although it is not the long- term solution that Montana’s delegation and others pushed for, it still allows for Kalispell’s long-awaited bypass to be built over the next year.
“We’ve got the green light,” Jim Mitchell, construction manager for the Montana Department of Transporta- tion, said.
The state advertised the project July 23 and will begin accepting bids Aug. 27 for the final phase of development, which will include building nearly four miles
of new road and pathway, five bridges and a sound wall near Empire Estates subdivision.
A contractor will be selected Sept. 1, and state officials expect work to com- mence Oct. 12.
The goal is for there to be traffic on the completed bypass by late 2016, Mitchell said.
“We have a pretty aggressive contract timeline set up to encourage them to get in there and get it done,” Mitchell said.
Development was ready to move for- ward in May but was delayed amid the latest fight in Congress over how to pay for the nation’s multibillion-dollar infra- structure needs.
With a temporary agreement in place, Kalispell’s monumental alternate route is finally fully funded and poised for com- pletion after decades of planning.
The final phase is estimated to cost $35 million, according to MDT.
This last phase will include build- ing a four-lane highway north from the
roundabout at Foys Lake Road toward U.S. Highway 2.
A bridge will be built over Ashley Creek and the Rails to Trails path, and another bridge will span U.S. 2. From there the new road will continue north toward Two Mile Drive, where the bypass will run under a new bridge. The road will continue to Three Mile Drive, where a bridge is already in place over the future bypass. The road will go to Four Mile Drive and a new bridge will be built similarly over the bypass. Four Mile Drive will also be completed west to Still- water Road with a flatter grade. The hill will be reduced by 30 feet. The fifth and final bridge will span Old Reserve Drive near Glacier High School, where the final section of bypass will be connected to current sections.
A sound barrier, similar to the south end, will be constructed along the bypass from Three Mile Drive to Parkridge Drive, near the Empire Estates subdivision.
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AUGUST 5, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM